The most complete list for your cycling adventure

Need for a cycling are many things, many things are convenient, but many other things are unnecessary. Yet you can not escape to take your bike equipment for Costa Rica adventure equally critically. If you often go cycling it is smart to let you buy are of good quality so that you have of equipment failure minimize burden. Note that it is important that as universal as possible and let you not prevent your choice whether or not to go cycling influence. It can also spend a little less!Panniers If you want to buy panniers, it is important that they are sturdy and waterproof!

Individual bags are easy to attach, sturdy attachment points are important. Not fitted loose bags are swabbing and your bike also. A attachment system with ‘clicks’ is sufficiently robust. Every extra pound that you take with you will be a burden going mountain so traveling light and easy is important.

A handlebar bag is very convenient because it easy to attach and convenient to keep your papers and important things ad hand. In addition, a handlebar bag can be used as a map standard. Among others Ortlieb makes nowadays fully waterproof handlebar bags. If your bag is not waterproof, think of a plastic bag for your camera and your passport.

Except panniers there is also a possibility to use a light trailer or bob yack, but given the mountainous area of Costa Rica, we do not recommend it.

Shoes and clothing

When some swear by special cycling wear, others find a simple T-shirt and comfortable shorts the better bike clothing. Most importantly, the clothes have the right fit and provide you with enough libertay to move you. For those who prefer not to wear tight shorts are also more bagy fashionable shorts with the benefits of cycling shorts.

The same goes for cycling shoes. Although you transfer more force with the click on shoes it is impossible to take a long walk with these. A alternative can be special mountain bike shoes that you can dboth just fine. Of course normal shoes on ordinary paddels wil do just fine.

PackingThe most complete checklist for your Costa Rica vacation bike! You do not want to take too much with you but do have will have to be prepared of course. If you are cycling and camping you will take considerably more with you than described below. Youre camping and sleeping gear will take a lot of space and you propably will need to mount youre front banniers as well. We limit ourselves at this time to cycling in Central America and Costa Rica in especial, where we assume that there are usually engough backpackers and lodges and we use to have a average temperature 15 degrees.

Bicycle Accessories

(mounted on the bike)

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Rack and waterproof panniers and handlebar

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Extra Dry waterproof bag or PVC bag

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Saddlebag for your base (tires) repair set

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Comfortable saddle

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Bottles + racks

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Computer and /or GPS

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LED front and rear light

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Front + rear fender especially in the rainy season

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Binders

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Cable lock also possible for your bags

Bike Accessories(mounted on the bike). It is important that you pack your luggage well, so you do not have to open bags in the rain or have everything laying arround on the street exposed just to get your photo camera. Because you only have a limited number of bags it is useful to divide the bag into the top and bottom half. In the bottom half perhaps in a plastic or linnen bag, the extra clothing you bring for your trip. The upper half of the things you probably would want to use on the road like a toilet or first aid bag, a pouch with some travel documents or vouchers perhaps the bag with some spares and tools. You can optionally attach a third loose bag on your mount where you have a sweater, a raincoat, or extra dry shirt, camping towel or something to eat.

It might be smart to divide the luggage of your travelcompanion and your self aswell, divde on the others bag a set of clothes. It is especially useful if the one bag with all the clothing was n’t as waterproof as you thought or incase of loosing a bag.

Drinking partying and tanning on the beach is your way to enjoy than this article probably won’t interest you. When you are not faint of hart, just a little bit more adventures , interested in culture and nature then this is something to read.

What about traveling Costa Rica by bicycle! This will be a great experience, where you will feel, taste and enjoy in a most pure way the best of Costa Rica. Using normal common sense you will get the best experience ever.

Climbing in to mountains, eating in small family restaurants, and being treated friendly where ever you go, able to stop at the best hidden places will ad great value to your Costa Rica experience. Learning to know the friendly Costarican people, while they amaze themselves over your appearance, appreciating your effort to actually learn to know them. Not like the 99% of the normal tourists, instead of driving around in a Rental car, or a group’s bus just stopping when dictated by your “guide” or travel itinerary. You will learn to see the real Costa Rica!

I am an experienced cyclist in Costa Rica, as a hotel owner of Hotel Rincon de San Jose we receive since year’s guest who had this amazing experience before you. Cycling MTB or racing is getting more and more popular in Costa Rica, gaining popularity for daily commuting discovered as a cheap and comfortable way of transport. Bicycle shops are popping up in almost every village.

Traveling Costa Rica by bike will be amazing when you keep a few traveltips:

Learn the Pura Vida, slow down, do not forget to enjoy yourself take it by the day!

Be prepared

Know your bike and your own physical condition

Mountain bike or tour bike is recommended

A good physical condition will help you to enjoy more!

Travel light, take as less as possible use the laundry service when needed

Use watertight biking bags (know brand is Ortlieb)

Taking your own bike by plane can be very costly; you might want to consider renting a bike and buy a cheaper ticket. We rent bikes 29er “Specialized” aluminum frame, hydraulic brakes as of $ 25,- a day.

Are you used to an eating patron during your biking adventures you might want to consider to take some with you.

Eat and drink well during the day, a breakfast with our great Callo pinto lunch with casadas and a fresh banana as a snack will give you the right energy. These meals are easy to get and mostly the best cooked and a great budget saver. You will find it in every little restaurant and hotel you will enter.

In Costa Rica we do have a lot of choice these days but not all bikes and brands are available it is little different than the huge range of possibilities they have in Europe or North America.Trek, Specialized, Orbea, Giant, Scott are the most commune brands.

Keep in mind that frame sizes mostly are the smaller sizes and wheel size mostly 26”

In the central valley and the bigger cities you will find bicycle stores for spare parts when you need them. When you have special wheel sizes like 28” or special tires please do not forget to take a spare.

Racing bikes will not do the job, especially when you want to take luggage with you.

You do have a better sight sitting up you are better prepared for the sometimes tough roads. And you will have more change to take this one hole in the road!

Mountain bike or hybrids will be best suited

A helm and a reflector vest are obligated also during day time.

Get triple blade and minimal 7-9 gears at your rear wheel.

Climbing hills can go up to 15% easy

Costa Rica is different so what we call,
– “Flat” would be about 3% average you can find roads like this at pacific and Caribbean coast
– “ Normal” would be about 3-5% average, cycling a route of about 50 km you would have this as an average on the lowland
– “Hilly” would be between 5-7% average, cycling in the central valley area around the Arenal area 50 km would have this average
– “Steep” 7-10% average when you are really going for it and please do! Going up the Poas, Irazu, Rincon de la Vieja, Sierra de la muerte all roads which are absolutely doable especially if you take it easy and keep yourself in mind.

Cycling every day is something you should be prepared for, keep in mind that the heat and the height can affect your state of condition. If you feel weak please rest a day, enjoy the Pura Vida!

Some comments of our guests:

A young couple!
It was great! We cycled a lot, France, China, Vietnam and all by bike but this was really different. There are no flat roads what so ever!

6 ladies with 55 year average:We had a lovely time, beautiful mountains and lowlands Costa Rica is nice and compact easy to travel. When we did had some problems we just send for a taxi.

Father and daughterCosta Rica is really easy going, after a few flats we needed new tires. We went to the local bicycle shop. The helped great us to get our spare parts so we could continue our trip.

A middle aged coupleOur route description wasn’t always correct but just asking was enough. At one time we were a little lost. We encountered a man smiling with his daughter on a bike. Can I help you he asked of course we do you know this lodge? No problems follow me and he brought us right to the doorstep of our lodge. Later on we learned that the nice man was also the owner!